Visit a 200-year-old chocolate shop in Paris.

The À la Mère de Famille in Paris has a long history and is famous for its irresistibly delicious chocolate dating back to the 18th century. The moment I saw it, I was momentarily captivated by its beauty. The exterior retains its classic architecture, with a nostalgic green color and old-fashioned candy jars displayed against the window, attracting the attention of passersby.

In 1761, Pierre-Jean Bernard, a young grocer who moved from Coulommiers to Paris, established a small chocolate shop called À la Mère de Famille at 35 Faubourg Montmartre. From there, he opened the first gateway to a paradise for chocolate lovers in Paris. The products, from classic chocolates to unique Folies de l'Écureuil, have retained their quality from the past, leaving a lasting impression on me.

Naturally, À la Mère de Famille has changed hands over the centuries. Marie-Adélaïde Bridault, Pierre-Jean Bernard's second wife, took over the business upon her husband's death in 1807. She raised four children on her own and, while the café gained a reputation, she helped it grow into a brand that has weathered many storms.

The shop was family-owned before being passed on to Étienne Dolfi. The renowned confectioner fell in love with this famous chocolate brand and developed À la Mère de Famille in the 2000s. Étienne Dolfi's children, Sophie, Steve, Jane, and Jonathan, all inherited their father's love of confectionery and expanded the business throughout Paris. Once just one À la Mère de Famille, today there are 11 branches across the glamorous city.

One of the core values ​​that remains unchanged at À la Mère de Famille is their commitment to relying on their own trusted artisans, rather than ordering confectionery from elsewhere. For example, Negus de Nevers (a soft caramel or chocolate) is made from a unique family recipe, carefully crafted and prepared by selected artisans.

“We are very conservative and committed to preserving this heritage,” said Steve Dolfi. “À la Mère de Famille will contribute to creating new, delicious products without losing its traditional essence. We select our raw materials, process the cocoa into chocolate and dried fruit into candy fillings, and produce everything ourselves, controlling the entire process from start to finish to ensure the perfect flavor and excellent quality of our products.”

As the French become increasingly concerned with healthy eating, reducing sugar intake, and consuming more fresh fruit, À la Mère de Famille's specialties have also evolved. The candied chestnuts are now less sweet, yet with a richer chestnut flavor. The recipe for this chestnut version took the shop four years of research and experimentation. The À la Mère de Famille menu now also includes a variety of delicious fruit ice creams and several candies made with the finest quality fresh fruit. All the pastries, from fruit tarts to rose-shaped cakes, from Folies de l'Écureuil (roasted almonds and hazelnuts coated in caramel and topped with dark chocolate powder) to lemon tarts, are baked fresh daily.

While preserving tradition and innovating recipes, the shop also creates new dishes. One of the most popular pastries recently in Paris is the chocolate gâteau, with layers of soft biscuit, dark chocolate ganache, and crispy chocolate leaves.

Of course, chocolate is always the shop's main focus, but macarons have also become one of À la Mère de Famille's specialties. Dried fruit and fruit ganache are added to the macarons here to create a unique combination. Some of the most popular flavors are pistachio, hazelnut, pine nut, coffee, vanilla, and caramel. Unsure what to choose, I decided to buy a colorful box of macarons as a gift, along with some fruit jelly and a few of the shop's best-selling chocolates.

With over two centuries of experience, À la Mère de Famille's secret recipes bring them millions of loyal customers every year. Each time a customer visits, more than half become a fan. Although, like me, they don't know when they'll have the chance to visit again.

Additional information

Address: 35 Faubourg Montmartre, Paris, France

Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 7:30 PM

government:À la Mère de Famille

Phone number: +33147708369

Huong Thao